Defending newly enacted laws that require background checks for private and online gun sales, Colorado Democrats last month relied on a statistic that they said indicated 6,200 new checks were done in the first six months.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper holds a comfortable lead over his potential Republican challengers, and 52 percent of Colorado voters approve of his job performance, according to a poll released Wednesday.

Democrats rejected an attempt Monday to repeal new background checks for private and online firearm sales in Colorado, arguing the law adopted last year in the wake of mass shootings is preventing criminals from buying guns.

Expanded background checks for firearm sales in Colorado were passed by Democrats last year at great political cost. Now Republicans are offering up a bill to repeal the law, reigniting the debate over gun control during an election year.